Charles g  camebos



Sept. 16, 1919.

Patented C. S. CAMERON.

HAH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I4. 19|?.

^ uniTEn sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

CHARLES S; CAMERON, yOE' COLUIVIBUSfU-IIO.

RAFT;

`implication med November 14, 1917. serial no. 202,051.`

To all whom it may Concern Be it known that l, CrrAnLEs SQ CAMERON, a citizen offthc UnitedStates, residing at Columbus, in thecounty ofliranklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements -in Rafts, of which the following is a specification,

This invention relates to non-sinlrable vessels, and has for its object to produce a raft like structure for insuring the safe transportation of merchandizablc` commodities and materials and possessing `novel features of construction and designwhich willrender the same extremely difficult to destroy or sink.

Another object of the invention resides in a vessel of this character which is principally adapted for` use in' transporting materials during martial periods, so that in the event of the vessel being struckby hostile craft, its own resilient or buoyant qualities will maintain the same afloat, this desirable result being obtained even after the vessel is subjected to the effects ofhigh explosives.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of a raft like structure including a plurality of chain connected floats, the latter being preferably in the form of hollow, fluid tight metallic cylinders, which may be divided into a number of door con trolled commodity receiving compartments, said cylinders being adapted to be suitably bound into a raft resembling formation whereby the saine may be conveniently towed or propelled from place to place.

For a further disclosure of the invention, reference is to be had to the following de script-ion and to the accompanying drawing, in which similar characters of reference de note corresponding parts 7throughout the several views, and: Y

Figure l is a side View of a vessel or raft constructed in accordance with the preferred principles of the invention,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same,

y Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a raft, and

Fig. t is an elevation of one of the floats or cylinders comprising the raft, and showing parts of the same in section. l

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the raft or vessel comprising the present invention in its entirety, the same consisting of a plurality of assembled floats 0r cylinders 2,

vwhich are bound by suitable chains 3, or

their equivalents, into raft formation. rIhe lcylinders are of hollow metallic construction, and are formed with end walls Ll, which are suitably secured to the shell of thc cylin .ders so as to prevent theseepagc of" liuid into the hollow interior of the floats. `The latter are usually bound into the hexagonal shape. "disclosed "in Fig. 2, although it should be understood that this `arrangement of the floats is" not essentially necessary. The chains include transversely extending portions 6 `and longitudinally extending portions?, these chains effectively embrace the floats or cylinders so as to prevent any one ormore of the latter from becoming accidentally disengaged from the raft structure. It will be understood that the raft as a whole may be towed by attaching suitable connections (not shown) to the chains 3, or may be self propelled. i l

Each ofthe cylinders maybe divided into a plurality of compartments 8 through the provision of partitions 9., and each of these partitions is rendered accessible by providing `registeringopenings l() in the shell of the cyl- `luder, these openings being covered by plates 11, and are removably secured in place by nuts 12. lt will be seen that in the event of a cylinder becoming damaged at a certain point along its longitudinal length, so as to permit of the admission of water therein, that it will not necessarily f'ollow from this that the cylinder will sink, as due to the partitions 9, the balance of the cylinder will be rendered fluid tight, and simply one c0mpartment, adjacent to the damaged part of the cylinder, will be filled with water. The partitions 9 therefore particularly add to the non-sinkable features of the raft.

In lFig, 3 of the drawing, the extremities of the raft have been shown as being blunt but it will be understood that if desired, the cylinders may be tapered somewhat after the manner of a log raft, so as to lessen the resistance offered to the progress of the raft when the same is being towed.` A run way 13 is provided upon the upper surface of the raft and is utilized to permit its crew to traverse its length, whereby the chains Imay be adjusted and the raft otherwise navigated. If desired cotton or a like material may be placed in the cylinders llld forming the submerged sides of the raft, so that in case of injury to the cylinders 14, the buoyancy of the raft will still be maintained by the floating qualities of the cotton contained within said cylinders, as will be clearly understood. In operation, commodities are placed within the cylinders through the openings l0 formed in the walls thereof, then the plates 1l are securely clamped in position so as to prevent the entrance of water into the compartments. The filled cylinders are then bound into a raft like formation disclosed through the medium oi the chains 3, whereby the cylinders will be eiiectively prevented from breaking loose from their normal positions. The raft may be towed in any suitable manner. Thus if the raft should be attacked during transportation and the same subjected to the action of high explosives, it will be necessary that each of the compartments 8 be punctured before the cylinders as a whole will sink, otherwise the same will float upon the surface of the water. Unusually high eXplosives may cause the chains 3 to break, but in that event, the cylinders will remain afloat and may be assembled into proper relation subsequent to the attack. Thus it is thought that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, and it will be seen that the invention is particularly useful in times of warfare, owing to its resistance against naval attacks.

If desired, compressed air may be inserted into one or more of the compartments 8, so that the internal pressure within the cylinder will be substantially equal to the external water pressure, whereby the cylinders will be effectively prevented from being damaged by the crushing force or pressure of water surrounding the same. It will be further understood that the partitions 9 may be removed, and that the cvlinder will then contain but one elongated compartment, so as to be capable of receiving a cannon or other large piece of ordnance. For the reception of a device of this character, it will be obvious that the opening 10 must be formed in one of the end walls of the cylinder, instead of in the circular side wall of the latter, so as to permit of the convenient reception of said device or an equivalent. If the cylinders are secured around the sides of a vessel, the latter will be rendered extremely diilicult to destroy or strike, inasmuch as if the vessel should strike a mine or the like, the buoyant qualities of the cylinders will maintain the vessel afloat until suitable repairs can be made.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as patentable is:

A vessel of the character described, comprising a plurality of metallic merchandise receiving cylinders, and chain means disposed to bind said cylinders in intimate and superimposed relation.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

CHARLES S. CAMERON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

